With a 42-31 victory over Venice on Friday at Staver Field, Naples High finished the regular season with a perfect 9-0 record. Video by NBC-2

Video by NBC-2

Naples defensive end Chance Hobbs (21) and teammate Trevor Hobbs (42) celebrate in the fourth quarter of the Venice-Naples football game Friday, Nov. 9 at Naples High School.

With a 42-31 victory over Venice on Friday at Staver Field, Naples High finished the regular season with a perfect 9-0 record.

It is the seventh time in school history that the Golden Eagles have gone undefeated and the fourth time in current coach Bill Kramer's 15-year tenure.

"I'm real proud of these guys," Kramer said. "There was a tremendous amount of accountability.

"We never make going undefeated a goal, or even talk about it. It's something you can't control. This win tonight will help us moving forward."

The Golden Eagles originally had 10 games on their schedule. However, a mid-October game against North Miami Beach was canceled due to inclement weather and traveling issues faced by North Miami Beach, hence Naples' nine wins.

Though the victory over Class 7A Venice (7-3) was impressive, it is the regional quarterfinal home matchup against 6A-11 runner-up Island Coast next Friday that Naples is most focused on.

"The undefeated season means a lot," said Naples quarterback Kilton Anderson. "Tonight was a tough win. There's no feeling like it going undefeated, but you can't get too caught up in it. We got to keep on keeping on for states.

"We can't let our guard down. One loss, and that's it. We have to keep focused."

Anderson capped an outstanding regular season with three rushing touchdowns and two more through the air on Friday. Anderson totaled 146 yards on the ground and scored on runs of five, 51 and two yards.

Anderson completed 5-of-9 passes and threw two first-half touchdown passes, the first a 35-yarder to freshman Tyler Byrd.

The second, 16 yards to tight end Conner Phillips, came just six seconds before halftime to give the Golden Eagles a 28-10 lead at intermission.

"Kilton had a great week of practice," Kramer said. "I knew he'd have a big game tonight. He's become an elite quarterback right before our eyes."

During halftime, former longtime Naples High teacher and coach George Bond received the school's second annual Lehman Legacy Award. Bond initially came to Naples High in 1972 and taught history until retiring in 2008. Bond also served as an assistant football and track coach throughout his career besides being the Golden Eagles athletic director and assistant principal.

The honor is named for Rex and Elsie Lehman, who helped create the Naples High football program in the mid-1940s.